Walking submersible toy



Oct. 27, 1953 D B. wxTTRY 2,556,644

WALKING SUBMERSIBLE TOY Filed April l5, 1950 INVENTOR.

filo/"nays Patented Oct. 27, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WALKING SUBMERSIBLE TOY David B. Wittry, Green Bay, Wis. Application April 15, 1950, Serial No. 156,120

9 Claims.

This invention relates to a submersible toy of the type generally manipulated by a manually compressible bulb to which the diver is connected by a tube.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a novel action manipulation for the toy.

Another more specic object of the invention is to provide a toy diver that can be made to rise and sink in water and to execute a directional walking motion while under water, at will.

The invention has been applied to the construction of a toy diver wherein a plurality of connected compartments are provided inside the body of the diver, and the entrance of air and water into the same is controlled by a handsqueezed bulb so that a diaphragm, which serves as a piston near the hinged connection between each leg and the body, eiects a leg action for the diver.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a perspective view showing a diver submerged and in an active position;

Fig. 2 is a Vertical section taken on a central transverse plane of the diver;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on a plane at right angles to Fig. 2 and on line 3 3 thereof;

Fig, 4 is an enlarged perspective View of the bottom of the body section of the diver with the .legs removed;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail section showing the .diaphragm mounting and construction; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail View showing the loperating bulb construction for the toy.

The diver illustrated comprises a body I to which is pivotally attached a pair of arms 2 and 73 and a pair of legs 4 and 5.

The body I is molded of a suitable synthetic :resin composition and may be formed in two pieces joined together at the seam 6 in a vertical plane.

The body I is hollow and is divided by a central vertical partition 1 into two compartments 18 and 9 disposed on opposite sides of the body.

The head I Il of the body constitutes a third compartment which is separated from the top of compartments 8 and 9 by a partition II extending across the neck of the diver. The head I0 has a rear lower port I2 which provides for filling of the head compartment with water when the diver is submerged and for draining of water from the head when the latter is raised.

One of the lower compartments, preferably the right-hand compartment 8, is connected through a port I3 in the rear wall of the compartment near 2 the top of the latter and a connecting flexible rubber tube I 4 to a hand-compressible bulb I5. The bulb I5 has a port with a check valve I 6 therein for free admission of air thereto when expanding after a squeezing thereof.

The partition I has a port I'I connecting com- Ipartments 8 and 9 near the bottom thereof. Compartment 9 has a small orifice-like port I8 at the bottom connected by a passage I9 extending upwardly in the wall of the body at the parting line between the sections to the top of the head where it opens into the head compartment.

The bottom of each of the compartments 8 and 9 has a large diameter opening 20 therein sealed by a exible rubber-like diaphragm 21I with a central stud-like projection or pin 22 adapted Y to iit into a complemental recess in the upper end of the corresponding leg 4 or 5.

The diaphragms 2I may be either molded as a part of or held in place by a plate 23 which ts into the anged lower end of body I and which preferably carries a Hap-like exible hinge projection 24 secured thereto or molded integral therewith for each corresponding leg 4 and 5.

`The plate 23 is preferably glued to the bottom of body I and completes the closure for the bottom of the compartments 8 and 9.

The legs 4 and 5 are weighted by suitable Lmetal inserts 25 disposed at a height to lprovide ease of manipulation of leg action. The weights are of a heft that will enable the diver to float when all of the compartments 8', 9 and I 0 are lled `with air, and which will eiiect sinking of the diver when either compartment 8 or IU or both are substantially filled with water. The oating position of the diver should be upright with only the top of the head above water so that port I2 is submerged.

The legs 4 and 5 are secured to the body I by the corresponding projections or pins 22 and suitable hinges 24 which extend into complemental recesses in the upper end of each leg and are preferably glued therein.

On one side, illustrated as the right side, the hinge 24 is disposed to the rear of pin 22 so that the corresponding right leg hinges near its rear edge on the flexible hinge 24 therefor and is swung rearwardly upon a downward depression of the corresponding diaphragm 2I and pin 22.

On the other side, the left side in the present illustration, the hinge 24 is disposed forward of the pin projection 22 so that the corresponding left leg hinges near its forward edge on the flexi- 3 ble hinge 2d therefor and is swung forwardly upon a downward depression of the corresponding diaphragm 2i and pin 2i.

For an upward inward movement of the diaphragms 2 i, the right leg in the illustration will move forwardly and the left leg will move rearwardly. This relationship of the legs is determined by the relation of compartments or chambers 8 and 9. The leg directly beneath the compartment that is connected to tube la should have its hinge rearwardly of its diaphragm so that it will move rearwardly upon a downward movement or the diaphragm caused by increased pressure in the chamber.

This walking action of the legs may be transmitted into an actual forward movement of the toy along the bottom of a tank by providing a irictional tread 25 on the bottom of the feet 2? at the lower end of the legs fl and 5.

The arms 2 and 3 are attached to the body i by means of the lateral circular projections 23 disposed at the shoulders of the body and upon which the arms are free to swing in a life-like manner as the diver lwalks forwardly.

The arms E and 3 are constructed by molding from the same or a similar synthetic resin as the body I.

A small pin-hole port 29 may be provided in the Ytop shoulder of compartment il for the restricted escape of air from the ldiver while submerged, to

give a slow bubbling of air upwardly through the water from the diver.

In operating and manipulating the diver described and shown by way of illustration of the invention, the diver is first placed on the water, preferably in a iiat bottom container such as a bath tub, laundry tub, dish pan, or the like. The diver will iloat with the weighted legs downward.

By squeezing bulb i5 with the hand, air is forced out through the body of the diver from compartment d through port il' to compartment il, thence through port i8 and passage i9 to head I0, and out port IE; and then by releasing the bulb with a finger over the port of check valve IE, water is drawn into the head compartment lo through port l2 and thence through passage I9 and port i8 to compartment E and port il to compartment partially filling the latter and causing the diver to sini: to the bottom.

When the diver has been lowered to the desired level, which for descriptive purposes will be assumed to be at the bottom of the tank so that the diver stands `with his feet on the bottom, the op` erator may release his finger from the port of valve l and allow air to enter and complete the expansion oi bulb i5 to normal size.

The conditions with the diver standing on the bottom of the tank are approximately as shown in Fig, l. The right-hand compartment d will be the one containing the most water, since in drawing the water into the body it first enters compartment i@ and then passes into compartment Si through passage I9 and port l until it covers port il, after which it passes into compartment il through port il and will rise in compartment S toward the port i3 connected with tube ifi. Compartment e will remain substantially lled with air to provide the necessary buoyancy of the diver. Initially this buoyancy is disp-laced to the left of the center of gravity of the diver, and the diver stands on the right foot.

To make the diver walk, the bulb i5 is squeezed and released alternately in repeated cycles in timed relation to the desired walking action.,

Each time the bulb i5 is squeezed, pressure is built up in compartments 8 and e to force diaphragms 2| downwardly and effect a hinging movement of the right leg 4 rearwardly and of the left leg 5 forwardly, thereby tending to propel the diver forwardly upon the right leg 4 which sustains the weight of the diver.

Simultaneously with this forward movement, the forcing of air down tube ill by the contraction of .bulb l5 forces water from compartment 8 through port Il into compartment 9, thereby shifting the center of buoyancy to the right so that at the end of the specified walking stroke the weight of the diver will be upon the left foot. Port i8 and .passage IQ are suiliciently small to restrict the momentary escape of water there" through and compartment e becomes substan- .tially lled with water while compartment 8 is emptied of water down to port il.

VUpon each releasing of the bulb is by the hand with a nnger over the port oi valve i5, a suction effect is obtained in the compartments d and 9 and diaphragms 2i move upwardly to effect hinging action of legs 4 and 5 in the opposite directions, thereby propelling the diver forwardly upon the left leg 5. Simultaneously with this stroke of the walking action water will rise in compartment 8 and lower in compartment 9 so as to shift the centerrof buoyancy back to the left side, placing the weight of the diver on the right foot at the end of the stroke.

With some skill of manipulation the diver can be caused to walk straight ahead or to the left or right or in a circle, as desired by the operator.

The diver can be made to rise to a floating position by slowly and repeatedly squeezing the bulb to drive the water from the compartments e and i@ through iinal port i2, and quickly releasing the same to permit air to enter through valve iii. If desired, the valve I6 may be eliminated and solely the linger of the operator may be employed to control air movement through the port into and out of bulb I5.

Various embodiments of the invention may be employed within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A submersible toy diver comprising a hollow body, a pair of leg members hinged to the lower end of said body side by side, separate diaphragm in an opening in the bottom wall of the ing diaphragm, means connecting each diaphragm with the corresponding leg to actuate the same upon its hinge in response to movements of the diaphragm, and means to effect alternate cycles of pressure change within said body where by both of said diaphragme are cyclically moved in and out to effect action of the legs in opposite directions simulating a walking vmovement therefor.

2. A submersible toy diver comprising a hollow body having a vertical central partition extending from the back to the front wall thereof and dividing the same into two chambers, a pair of leg members hinged, side by side to the lower end of said body to provide for forward and rearward movement of the legs, a diaphragm at the lower end of each chamber in an opening in the bottom of said body, means connecting each diaphragm with a corresponding leg whereby inand-out movement of the diaphragms will eiect leg action for the toy, and means to eifect alter'- nate cycles of fluid pressure change within said chambers whereby said diaphragms are caused to actuate said legs in a walking action.

3. A submersible toy diver comprising a hollow body having a vertical central partition extending from the back to the front wall thereof and dividing the same, into two chambers, a pair of leg members hinged side by side to the lower end of said body to provide for forward and rearward movement of the legs, a diaphragm at the lower end of each chamber in an opening in the bottom of said body, means connecting each diaphragm with a corresponding leg whereby in-and-out movement of the diaphragms will eifect leg action for the toy, the hinge for one of said legs being disposed forwardly of the corresponding diaphragm and its connection to the leg and the hinge for the other of said legs being disposed rearwardly of the corresponding diaphragm and its connection to the leg, and means to eiect simultaneous cycles of increasing and decreasing iiuid pressures within said chambers whereby said diaphragms are moved outwardly simultaneously to move said legs in opposite directions, and inwardly simultaneously to reverse the movement of the legs and thereby provide a walking action for the toy.

4. A submersible toy diver comprising a hollow body having a vertical central partition extending from the back to the front wall thereof and dividing the same into two chambers, a pair of leg members hinged side by side to the lower end of said body to provide for forward and rearward movement of the legs, a diaphragm at the lower end of each chamber in an opening in the bottom of said body, means connecting each diaphragm with a corresponding leg whereby in-and-out movement of the diaphragms will eifect leg action for the toy, the hinge for one of said legs being disposed forwardly of the corresponding diaphragm and its connection to the leg and the hinge for the other of said legs being disposed rearwardly of the corresponding diaphragm and its connection to the leg, said partition having an opening therethrough near the bottom to connect said chambers, one chamber having a small port for the admission of water thereto near the bottom thereof, a flexible tube connected by a port to the upper end of the other chamber, and means connected to said tube to supply and withdraw air from the body of the diver in cycles of alternate increasing and decreasing fluid pressure for said chambers whereby said diaphragms are moved outwardly simultaneously to move said legs in opposite directions, and inwardly simultaneously to reverse the movement of the legs and thereby provide a walking action for the toy.

5. A submersible toy diver comprising a hollow body having a Vertical central partition extending from the back to the front wall thereof and dividing the same into two chambers, a pair of leg members hinged side by side to the lower end of said body to provide for forward and rearward movement of the legs, a diaphragm at the lower end of each chamber in an opening in the bottom of said body, means connecting each diaphragm with a corresponding leg whereby in-and-out movement of the diaphragms will effect leg action for the toy, the hinge for one of said legs being disposed forwardly of the corresponding diaphragm and its connection to the leg and the hinge for the other of said legs being disposed rearwardly of the corresponding diaphragm and its connection to the leg, said partition having an opening therethrough near the bottom to connect said chambers, the chamber disposed above the leg that is hinged forwardly of its diaphragm having a small port for the admission of water thereto near the bottom thereof, a flexible tube connected by a port to the upper end of the other chamber which is .disposed above the leg that is hinged rearwardly of its diaphragm, and means connected to said tube to supply and withdraw air from the body of the diver in cycles of alternate increasing and decreasing fluid pressure for said chambers whereby said diaphragms are moved outwardly simultaneously to move said legs in opposite directions, and inwardly simultaneously to reverse the movement of the legs and 'thereby provide a walking action for the toy, the water admission port serving for the initial admission of water into said body to substantially iill the opposite chamber by initial suction through the tube whereby the toy may be caused to sink and the side of the toy immediately above the leg which moves rearwardly at any given time is less buoyant than the side of the toy immediately above the leg which moves forwardly so that traction may be maintained between the bottom of the legs and a surface upon which the toy walks.

6. A submersible toy diver comprising a hollow body having a vertical central partition extending from the back to the front wall thereof and dividing the same into two chambers, a pair of leg members hinged side by side to the lower end of said body to provide for forward and rearward movement of the legs, a diaphragm at the lower end of each chamber in an opening in the bottom of said body, means connecting each diaphragm with a corresponding leg whereby inand-out movement of the diaphragms will effect leg action for the toy, the hinge for one of said legs being disposed forwardly of the corresponding diaphragm and its connection to the leg and the hinge for the other of said legs being disposed rearwardly of the corresponding diaphragm and its connection to the leg, said partition having an opening therethrough near the bottom to connect said chambers, a flexible tube connected by a port to the upper end of the chamber which is disposed above the leg that is hinged rearwardly of its diaphragm, an initial supply of liquid in the chamber connected to said tube substantially lling the chamber and a corresponding initial supply of air in the opposite chamber, and means connected to said tube to supply and withdraw air from the body 0f the diver in cycles of alternate increasing and decreasing fluid pressure for said chambers whereby said diaphragms are moved outwardly simultaneously to move said legs in opposite directions, and inwardly simultaneously to reverse the movement of the legs and thereby provide a walking action for the toy while alternately changing the buoyancy of the body laterally to correspond with the side having the forwardly moving leg in each instance.

7. A submersible toy diver comprising a hollow body having a vertical central partition extending from the back to the front wall thereof and dividing the same into two chambers, a pair of leg members hinged side by side to the lower end of said body to provide for forward and rearward movement of the legs, a diaphragm at the lower end of each chamber in an opening in the bottom of said body, means connecting each diaphragm with a corresponding leg whereby inand-out movement of the diaphragms will effect leg action for the toy, the hinge for one of said 16815 being disposed forwardly mf the corresponding diaphragm and its :connection to ithe leg Vand thehinge Afor the `other of :said legs being disposed rearwardly of the corresponding diaphragm and its .connection to the leg, the chamber disposed above the leg that is hinged forwardly of its diaphragm having a small port for the admission of water thereto near the bottom thereof, said partition having an opening therethrough near the bottom to connect said chambers, a dexible tube connected by a port to the upper end or the chamber which is disposed :above the leg that is hinged rearwardly of its diaphragm, and a hand contractible bulb connected to said tube to supply andwithdraw air 4from the body of the diver in cycles kof alternate increasing and decreasing duid pressure for said chambers whereby said diaphragms are moved outwardly simultaneously to lmeve said legs in opposite directions, and inwardly simultaneously to reverse the movement of the -leg-s and thereby provide a walking action for the toy, the first named port serving for the initial admission of water into said body to substantial-ly ill the opposite chamber by initial suc-1 tion through the tube whereby the toy may be caused to sink and the side of the toy immediately above the leg which moves rearwardly at any given time is less buoyant than the side of the toy immediately above the leg which moves forwardly so that traction may be maintained between the bottom of the legs and a surface upon which the toy walks.

B. A submersible toy diver comprising a hollow body having a vertical central partition extending from the back to the front wall thereof n and dividing the same into two chambers, a hcllow head for said body partitioned therefrom across the neck thereof to provide a third chainber, a pair of leg Imembers hinged side by side to the lower end of said body to provide for forward and rearward movement of the legs, a diaphragm at the lower end of each chamber in an opening in the bottom of said body, means connecting each diaphragm with a corresponding leg whereby in-and-out movement of the diaphragms will eect leg action for the toy, the hinge for one of said legs being disposed forwardly of the corre-- sponding diaphragm and its connection to the leg and the hinge for the other of said legs being disposed rearwardly of the corresponding diaphragm and its connection to the leg, the chamy ber disposed above the leg that is hinged forwardly of its diaphragm having a small port near the bottom thereof and leading through a passage to the top 0f said head chamber, a port to the outside for said chamber near the neck line, said -rst named partition having an opening therethrough near the -bottom 'to' connect said rst named chambers, a flexible tube connected by a port to the upper end' of the chamber which is disposed above the leg that is hinged rearwardly of its diaphragm, a hand contractible bulb connected to said tube to supply and withdraw air from the body of the diver in cycles of alternate increasing and decreasing fluid pressure for said chambers whereby said diaphragms are moved outwardly simultaneously to move said legs in opposite directions, and inwardly simultaneously to reverse the movement of the legs and thereby provide a walking action for the toy, and weights for said legs correlated to the buoyancy of said hollow body and head to effect initial oating or the diver with the outside port thereof below water level, said ports serving for the initial filling of said head with water by suction from said bulb to effect 'sinking of the diver, and for continued admission of water through said passage from the head to said body chambers to substantially lill the chamber connectedl to said bulb whereby the side of the toy immediately above the leg which moves rearwardly at any given time is less buoyant than the sideY of the toy immediately above the leg which moves forwardly so that traction may be maintained between the bottom of the rearwardly moving leg and a surface upon which the toy walks.

9. A submersible toy diver comprising a hollow body, means to admit and to discharge water from said hollow body to cause the diver to sink and to rise in the water, means to supply air to said body during submergence, a pair of leg members hinged to said body, means to actuate said legs in opposite directions in response to alternate increasing and decreasing of pressure within the body to provide a leg action for the diver, and means to shift the weight of the water in said body from side to side in synchronisrn with the leg action to effect a control of traction between the bottom of Said legs and a surface supporting the same to eiect directional movement of the diver under the influence of said leg action.

DAVID B. WITTRY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 712,601 Savage Nov. 4, 1902 1,244,948 Brown Oct. 30, 1917 1,622,570 Budde Mar. 29, 1927 2,297,727 Svoboda Oct. 6, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 760,465 France Dec. 14, 1933 

